Fields, who, after dinner, did give my Lord an account of two papist women
lately converted, whereof one wrote her recantation, which he shewed under
her own hand mighty well drawn, so as my Lord desired a copy of it, after
he had satisfied himself from the Doctor, that to his knowledge she was
not a woman under any necessity. Thence by coach home and staid a very
little, and then by water to Redriffe, and walked to Bagwell's, where 'la
moher' was 'defro, sed' would not have me 'demeurer' there 'parce que'
Mrs. Batters and one of my 'ancillas', I believe Jane (for she was gone
abroad to-day), was in the town, and coming thither; so I away presently,
esteeming it a great escape. So to the yard and spoke a word or two, and
then by water home, wondrous cold, and reading a ridiculous ballad made in
praise of the Duke of Albemarle, to the tune of St. George, the tune being
printed, too; and I observe that people have some great encouragement to
make ballads of him of this kind. There are so many, that hereafter he
will sound like Guy of Warwicke. Then abroad with my wife, leaving her at
the 'Change, while I to Sir H. Cholmly's, a pretty house, and a fine,
worthy, well-disposed gentleman he is. He and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's,
about money for Tangier, but to little purpose. H. Cholmley tells me,
among other things, that he hears of little hopes of a peace, their
demands being so high as we shall never grant, and could tell me that we
shall keep no fleete abroad this year, but only squadrons. And, among
other things, that my Lord Bellasses, he believes, will lose his command
of Tangier by his corrupt covetous ways of .endeavouring to sell his
command, which I am glad [of], for he is a man of no worth in the world
but compliment. So to the 'Change, and there bought 32s. worth of things
for Mrs. Knipp, my Valentine, which is pretty to see how my wife is come
to convention with me, that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall
give her as much, which I am not much displeased with. So home and to the
office and Sir W. Batten, to tell him what I had done to-day about
Carcasse's business, and God forgive me I am not without design to give a